Quiz | November 2014

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

The beginning of the holiday season is prime time to tip the people who make your life easier throughout the year. But be sure not to bust your budget by giving too much or tipping unnecessarily. Take our quiz to find out who might expect a tip and how much green you should tuck into each card — as well as who might be unhappy or unwilling to accept the cash.

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 1 of 10

How much should you tip your mail carrier?

A. $10 to $20
B. $40 to $60
C. A gift card of up to $20

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 1 of 10

How much should you tip your mail carrier?

You're right!C. A gift card of up to $20 is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is C. A gift card of up to $20.

The U.S. Postal Service forbids carriers from accepting cash. Instead, you can give them a gift card (as long as it cannot be redeemed for cash). But gifts must be worth less than $20. You could also throw in a glowing letter to a supervisor praising a carrier who was undeterred by snow, rain, heat or gloom of night. Such praise may mean even more than a gift, says Peggy Post, director of the Emily Post Institute.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 2 of 10

How much should you tip your baby's daycare provider?

A. $10 to $20
B. $25 to $70 and a small gift from your child
C. The amount you pay for a week of care

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 2 of 10

How much should you tip your baby's daycare provider?

You're right!B. $25 to $70 and a small gift from your child is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is B. $25 to $70 and a small gift from your child.

As someone who works closely with you and your child, your child-care provider should be at the top of your tip list. Each daycare employee who works with your child might deserve $25 to $70, plus a small gift from the little one, such as a drawing or picture.

For a beloved nanny, consider giving up to a week's pay along with a special gift from your child. A weekend babysitter may deserve one or two nights' pay. If someone has worked with you for several years or has provided outstanding service, you may bump up the amount.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 3 of 10

How much should you tip your regular hairstylist or barber?

A. The cost of one visit
B. 20% of the total cost of all your visits throughout the year
C. A lock of your hair

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 3 of 10

How much should you tip your regular hairstylist or barber?

You're right!A. The cost of one visit is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is A. The cost of one visit.

If you have multiple salon staff members who work on your do (if, say, one person shampoos and another person cuts), the Emily Post Institute says to divide the cost of one visit between them proportionately. And consider including a small gift for a stylist who doubles as a confidant.

If you don't regularly visit your salon or barbershop throughout the year, you may prefer to give about $20 as a tip during your December visit. And if you tip regularly throughout the year, it's okay to forgo the year-end tip, says Mary M. Mitchell, author of The Complete Idiot's Guide to Etiquette.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 4 of 10

How much should you tip your regular dog groomer?

A. Up to the cost of a session
B. A tub full of chew toys
C. No tip

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 4 of 10

How much should you tip your regular dog groomer?

You're right!A. Up to the cost of a session is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is A. Up to the cost of a session.

If you bring your pet to the same person year-round for grooming, half the cost of a session is appropriate. Or a personal gift may suffice.

For a dog walker, you might consider tipping one day's pay, unless he or she walks your dog five days a week or more, says Jodi R. R. Smith, president of etiquette consultant Mannersmith. In that case, give up to a week's pay or a small gift. Or you can substitute a gift for a cash tip, according to the Emily Post Institute.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 5 of 10

How much should you tip your accountant?

A. $80 to $100
B. 5% of the tax refund you expect him to get you
C. No tip

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 5 of 10

How much should you tip your accountant?

You're right!C. No tip is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is C. No tip.

Don't pass cash to your lawyer, doctor or accountant — tips are generally for people in certain areas of the service industry, such as hospitality. If you feel compelled to thank them, a gift (such as home-baked goods, a bottle of wine or chocolates) is okay.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 6 of 10

How much should you tip your building’s doorman?

A. $10 to $20
B. $25 to $100
C. An ornamental doorstop

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 6 of 10

How much should you tip your building’s doorman?

You're right!B. $25 to $100 is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is B. $25 to $100.

A tip is a nice way to reward anyone who helps you in your apartment or condo building. But check your building association's policy before tipping any of its workers. If you're free to tip as you please, a doorman, as well as a superintendent, should get about $25 to $100 each (higher tips are for those who help you the most or provide exceptional service yearlong). For a handyman who makes repairs regularly, consider giving $15 to $40; a custodian may deserve $20 to $50.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 7 of 10

How much should you tip your regular cleaning person?

A. A gift basket of cleaning supplies
B. The cost of one visit
C. A month’s pay

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 7 of 10

How much should you tip your regular cleaning person?

You're right!B. The cost of one visit is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is B. The cost of one visit.

This amount is considered fitting if he or she visits weekly or biweekly, says Rosanne Thomas, president of Protocol Advisors, an etiquette consulting firm. Increase the amount for someone who works more often or has been providing you service for several years. Likewise, you could cut it for someone you tip throughout the year or whose services haven't been outstanding.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 8 of 10

How much should you tip your child’s teacher?

A. $25 to $50
B. $100 to $200
C. A small gift

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 8 of 10

How much should you tip your child’s teacher?

You're right!C. A small gift is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is C. A small gift.

A tip for a teacher could look like a bribe. But a small gift accompanied by a note or drawing from your child is a nice thank-you for an educator's hard work. Or pool your resources with other parents to buy the teacher a gift card. Just be sure to first check the policies of your child's school: If gifts are forbidden, a note of appreciation is always appropriate.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 9 of 10

How much should you tip your personal trainer?

A. $15 to $40
B. $50 or up to the cost of one session
C. No tip

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 9 of 10

How much should you tip your personal trainer?

You're right!B. $50 or up to the cost of one session is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is B. $50 or up to the cost of one session.

After sweating it out with your trainer all year long, you might find you've become quite close with him. Charlotte Ford, author of 21st-Century Etiquette, suggests this generous tip especially if you have an ongoing relationship with the professional and believe you have received above-average service. Besides, you might need him to give your sessions a bit of a boost after you've gobbled up some of those holiday feasts and treats.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 10 of 10

How much should you tip your trash and recycling collectors?

A. $10 to $30 each
B. $30 to $50 each
C. No tip

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Thinkstock

Question 10 of 10

How much should you tip your trash and recycling collectors?

You're right!A. $10 to $30 each is correct.

Sorry, wrong! is incorrect.

The right answer is A. $10 to $30 each.

You can hand them the envelope directly when they make their rounds during holiday season. But first check the rules for your municipality. Some jurisdictions forbid workers from accepting cash, according to the Emily Post Institute.

SCORE: 0 out of 10

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

Quiz

Who Should You Tip for the Holidays?

Results: 0 out of 10

Editor's Picks From Kiplinger

answer_num=3,2,1,1,3,2,2,3,2,1|answer_text="C. A gift card of up to $20","B. $25 to $70 and a small gift from your child","A. The cost of one visit","A. Up to the cost of a session","C. No tip","B. $25 to $100","B. The cost of one visit","C. A small gift","B. $50 or up to the cost of one session","A. $10 to $30 each"|total_questions=10|url=/quiz/spending/T065-S001-who-should-you-tip-for-the-holidays/index.html|total_pages=22|page_id=10477|evaltext_num=0|kipad_id=FamilyFinancesQuizzes

DISCUSS

Permission to post your comment is assumed when you submit it.
The name you provide will be used to identify your post, and NOT your e-mail address.
We reserve the right to excerpt or edit any posted comments for clarity, appropriateness, civility, and relevance to the topic.View our full privacy policy